Questions To Ask Your Doctor

Questions To Ask Your Doctor Before and After Surgery

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

Surgeries, whether it's big or small. can be really overwhelming and scary. Having to think about the surgical procedure, the possible risks involved, length of recovery, and the cost can be stressful.

The best way to lessen the pressure you feel before getting a surgery is to be prepared and informed. This all starts with communicating with your doctor and surgeon to help reduce the fears of the operation.

A lot of people all around the world undergo surgery each year. It's crucial to know and be informed about the surgery that your doctor recommended, especially if the operation is of your choosing, rather than an emergency surgery. Surgeries have their benefits, but they also have their risks. You need to understand what these risks are before deciding if you'll go through with the surgery or if it's appropriate for you.

Ask your doctor or your healthcare provider to explain the details to you clearly. Don't be shy to ask for further explanation if you don't understand the first time they answer, especially if they use any medical terms. You can write down your questions on a sheet of paper so that you can prepare ahead of time.

To make sure you completely understand what the medical procedure you are having involves, and to help you have more confidence in your physician, there are questions to ask your doctor about surgery. These include:

What specific condition or part of my body is being treated with this procedure?
What is the expected outcome if I choose not to have this procedure? This is also another important question to ask your surgeon. To be more specific, you can ask what your other options are for treatment. Ask what may or will happen if the surgery is not pushed through or if it's not done at this time, can it be done some other day? Are there any consequences if the surgery is delayed or postponed?
Questions to ask your doctor about surgery might include why the doctor is recommending the procedure. It's important to ask your surgeon for a simple explanation of the surgery that you will undergo, as well as what techniques the surgeon will use, and why it should be performed. Another good question is why this specific operation was chosen over other possible alternatives.
Are there any alternatives to this procedure or surgery? Sometimes, surgery is not the only option. It depends on what your condition is, maybe it's possible that medication or conservative treatment can help.
Questions to ask your doctor about surgery might include what the risks are, compared to the benefits of the procedure. As stated earlier, surgeries have their risks. It's important to know what these risks are, as well as other problems, complications, or conditions that may arise during and after the procedure. You can ask if these complications and risks commonly arise, and if they do, how can they be treated.
Are there other patients I can talk to who have had this or similar procedures?
Questions to ask your doctor about surgery may be if there are long-term consequences associated with the procedure or surgery.

Some questions to ask your surgeon:

Some questions to ask your doctor about surgery might include those related to your surgeon. For example:

How many times each year does the surgeon perform this procedure?
Some questions to ask your doctor about surgery may include if the surgeon been fellowship-trained. This is especially vital in the case of a fusion.
Some questions to ask your doctor about surgery might be about who will be assisting in your operation or procedure.

Questions to ask your doctor about surgery after you have decided to have surgery:

What does the surgery involve?
Another one of the questions to ask your doctor about surgery might be if the procedure will be done using microscopic surgical techniques or if it will be an open surgery, which requires a larger incision
One of the questions to ask your doctor about surgery might be what type of anesthetic will be used during your surgery
What are the potential risks and complications? How are these treated?
Questions to ask your doctor about surgery might include if you will be required to take antibiotics after your operation
Some questions to ask your doctor about surgery might be about how long you will have to stay in the hospital after your surgery or procedure.
Questions to ask your doctor about surgery should include how much time it will possibly take you to rehabilitate. You may want to ask about exercises or physical therapy that will be recommended after surgery to help speed your recovery.

During your first consultation visit, your surgeon should suggest a second visit. This will give you time to consider your options and think about any other questions to ask your doctor about surgery. The time you spend consulting with a spine surgeon should be educational, and you should come away with answers to the questions you've asked.

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Questions & Answers

What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Age2B

4 answers

What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?

Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5-10 times
Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Age2B

4 answers

How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Age2B

4 answers